Abstract

The extent to which the thermal capacitance and resistance of a black coating on a pyroelectric detector offset the gain in optical absorptance is investigated. A black paint is shown to be of little value, but a coating of gold–black may increase the detector responsivity for modulation frequencies up to at least several kilohertz. When a coated pyroelectric detector is calibrated electrically, a correction is necessary for the thermal impedance of the black. For gold–blacks of superficial density 2 g m−2, this correction is shown to be less than 2% for frequencies within the 0–100-Hz range.

Certain commercial materials are identified in this paper in order to specify the experimental procedure adequately. This identification does not imply that the materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

J. Sci. Instrum.

Metrologia

Proc. Roy. Soc. (London)

E. J. Gillham, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) A269, 249 (1962).

Other

Certain commercial materials are identified in this paper in order to specify the experimental procedure adequately. This identification does not imply that the materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

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